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"They have no proper plan to improve the quality or sustainability of childcare providers and deliver on their 30 hour free childcare promise."

Education Secretary Justine Greening said nurseries will be in a "stronger position" (Image: Getty)

Neil Leitch, chief executive of Pre-school Learning Alliance, added: "While this is undoubtedly a positive step in the right direction, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on providers' sustainability in the long term.

"We are still in a situation where the early years funding rates that local councils will receive next year will remain stagnant until 2020.

"This is not sustainable and must be addressed if the government is to ensure the sector can survive in the long term."

"Significant" fears over funding were raised in a government consultation that had not even asked about the budget.

The consultation said: "We have considered these carefully and concluded that it is sensible to provide further support."

"Significant" fears over funding were raised in a government consultation

New measures also include extending a £55m-a-year fund for maintained nurseries by one year to 2019/20.

At least 95% of the funding will have to go to the frontline, the statement slipped out online just before 4pm said.

Education Secretary Justine Greening said: "These changes will put early years providers in a stronger position to deliver the free entitlements on a sustainable basis."

Parents in England can claim double the current 15 hours of free childcare from September 2017.